System for testing a perfume

ABSTRACT

The invention relates to a system for testing a perfume, comprising: a housing comprising an opening; a test body designed to be at least partially inserted into the housing through the opening, the test body being made at least partially from a material that can be impregnated with perfume; and a perfume-dispensing device arranged inside the housing and designed to dispense the perfume onto the test body when the test body is inserted into the housing. The perfume-dispensing device comprises at least one perfume-impregnating body which the test body is designed to come into contact with upon insertion into the housing, the perfume-impregnating body being designed to fill with perfume and to impregnate the test body with the perfume when it comes into contact therewith.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to systems for testing a perfume.

More particularly, the invention relates to a system for testing a perfume comprising:

a housing comprising an opening;

a test body designed to be at least partially inserted into the housing through the opening, the test body being made at least partially from a material that can be impregnated with perfume; and

a perfume-dispensing device arranged inside the housing and designed to dispense the perfume onto the test body when the test body is inserted into the housing.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

A system of this type is known from document EP 1172305 A1, in which the perfume-dispensing device comprises a container equipped with a pump and a nozzle for spraying perfume onto the test body.

However, this system uses a complex mechanism involving many mutually cooperating parts.

A similar system having the same disadvantages is described in document FR 2987761 A1. This system further requires the presence of electrical components such as a motor, a power supply, and a comprehensive electronic detection circuit including a microprocessor and an infrared transceiver for detecting the test body within the housing.

The aim of the present invention is to provide a system for testing a perfume that is simple and inexpensive to manufacture while being simple and fun to use.

OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION

To this end, the invention relates to a system for testing a perfume of the aforementioned type, characterized in that the perfume-dispensing device comprises at least one perfume-impregnating body with which the test body is designed to come into contact when the test body is inserted into the housing, the perfume-impregnating body being designed to be loaded with perfume and to impregnate the test body with the perfume when it comes into contact with the test body.

With these arrangements, it is possible to design a perfume testing system that is simple and inexpensive to manufacture and is easy and fun to use.

In various embodiments of the system according to the invention, one or more of the following additional arrangements may advantageously be used:

said material that can be impregnated with perfume is a porous material selected from among a ceramic, Porex®, a cellulose, and a plaster;

the test body comprises a gripping portion extending along a longitudinal axis and an end portion arranged in the axial extension of the gripping portion and projecting radially from the gripping portion;

the test body comprises a gripping portion extending along a longitudinal axis and an end portion arranged in the axial extension of the gripping portion, the end portion being made of said material that can be impregnated with perfume and the gripping portion being made of a material impermeable to perfume;

the perfume-dispensing device comprises a plurality of perfume-impregnating bodies in the form of solid perfumed elements;

the perfumed elements are in the form of granules, chips, beads, or capsules;

the perfumed elements are made from plastic, mineral salts, wax, soap, or gel;

the perfume-dispensing device comprises a perfume charger containing the perfumed elements;

the perfume-dispensing device comprises a perfume charger designed to contain perfume in liquid form and provided with a hole sealed by the perfume-impregnating body, the perfume-impregnating body being mounted to rotate freely on the perfume charger;

the perfume-dispensing device comprises a perfume charger designed to contain perfume in liquid form, the perfume-impregnating body being fixedly mounted on the perfume charger and designed to be impregnated with perfume;

the perfume-dispensing device comprises a perfume charger designed to contain perfume in liquid form, and two perfume-impregnating bodies mounted to rotate freely on the perfume charger and designed to be impregnated with perfume;

the perfume-impregnating bodies are made from foam, Porex®, cellulose, or ceramic;

the system further comprises a wick arranged between the perfume charger and the perfume-impregnating bodies, the wick being designed to soak up the perfume and impregnate the perfume-impregnating bodies with perfume; and

the test body is connected to the housing by a tether.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

The invention will be better understood by reading the following description of several embodiments, given only as non-limiting examples and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIGS. 1 and 2 are schematic perspective views of a system for testing a perfume according to a first embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 3 is a schematic perspective view of a system for testing a perfume according to a second embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 4 is a schematic perspective view of a system for testing a perfume according to a third embodiment of the invention;

FIGS. 5A to 5C are schematic longitudinal vertical sectional views of a first variant embodiment of the system of FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a schematic longitudinal vertical sectional view of a second variant embodiment of the system of FIG. 4; and

FIG. 7 is a schematic perspective view of a system for testing a perfume according to a fourth embodiment of the invention.

In the various Figures, the same references designate identical or similar elements.

MORE DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG. 1 illustrates a system 10 for testing a perfume according to a first embodiment of the invention.

The system 10 comprises: a housing 12 comprising an opening 14, a test body 16 designed to be at least partially inserted into the housing 12 through the opening 14, and a perfume-dispensing device 18 arranged inside the housing 12 and designed to dispense a perfume onto the test body 16 when the test body 16 is inserted into the housing 12.

The housing 12 is in the form of a cube in the different embodiments described. Alternatively, the housing 12 may have any suitable shape, for example the shape of a brick, cylinder, cone, etc.

The housing 12 may be made from any suitable material, for example glass, plastic, etc.

Advantageously, the housing 12 may be transparent or translucent, allowing a user to see the contents of the housing 12.

The opening 14 is provided in one of the side faces 20 of the housing 12. Alternatively, the opening 14 may be provided on the upper face 22 of the housing 12.

The opening 14 has a rectangular shape in the different embodiments described. Alternatively, the opening 14 may have any suitable shape, for example square, circular, triangular, etc.

In this first embodiment, the perfume-dispensing device 18 comprises a perfume charger 24 and a plurality of perfume-impregnating bodies 26 (FIG. 2) contained in the perfume charger 24.

The perfume charger 24 has a shape identical to that of the housing 12, with dimensions slightly smaller than those of the housing 12, and an opening 28 positioned to correspond with the opening 14 of the housing 12. Alternatively, the perfume charger 24 may have any suitable shape, such as a brick, cylinder, cone, etc.

The perfume-impregnating bodies 26 are designed to be loaded with perfume and to impregnate the test body 16 with perfume by coming into contact with the test body 16 when the test body 16 is inserted into the housing 12.

Referring to FIG. 2, the perfume-impregnating bodies 26 are in the form of many loose solid perfumed elements arranged inside the perfume charger 24.

Preferably, the perfumed elements 26 do not completely fill the perfume charger 24, not only to facilitate insertion and removal of the test body 16 into the perfume charger 24, but also to enable shaking the perfume charger 24 in order to mix the perfumed elements 26.

Alternatively, the perfume-dispensing device 18 may not comprise a perfume charger 24. In this case, the perfumed elements 26 are loose elements placed directly within the housing 12.

The perfumed elements 26 may be made in any suitable form, for example in the form of granules, chips, beads, capsules, etc.

The perfumed elements 26 may be made from:

plastic material, for example a plastic that is scented by impregnation with a perfume concentrate (Pebax®, Torrex®, ethylene-vinyl acetate EVA, etc.) or a scented foamed plastic (EVA, etc.);

mineral salts, such as scented bath salts;

scented wax;

soap;

scented gel;

etc. For example, the perfumed elements 26 may be granules of Pebax® having an average diameter of about 3 to 4 mm.

The test body 16 is a rigid member extending along a longitudinal axis X and designed to be at least partially inserted through the opening 14 into the housing 12 so that it comes into contact with the perfumed elements 26.

To do so, the test body 16 has a cross-section complementary to the shape of the opening 14, which is rectangular in the example described here.

The test body 16 is at least partially made (completely in the present example) from a material designed for impregnation with perfume.

For example, the test body 16 may be made from a porous material selected from among a ceramic, Porex®, a cellulose, a plaster, etc., and more generally any material designed for absorbing odor molecules in the liquid or gaseous state.

To prevent the test body 16 from being stolen, lost, or from falling to the ground when the system 10 is high from the ground, the test body 16 is connected to the housing 12 by a tether 30, for example a cord, a chain, or a leather band.

The system 10 operates as follows.

Initially, the test body 16 is inserted into the housing 12 and perfume charger 24 through the respective openings 14, 28 (FIG. 2), and is left in this position.

The test body 16 is thus in contact with the perfumed elements 26, which impregnate the test device 16 with perfume.

When the user wishes to smell the perfume, he or she extracts the test body 16 from the perfume charger 24 and housing 12 and smells the perfume that has impregnated the test body 16.

When finished, the user places the test body 16 back in the housing 12 and perfume charger 24, in contact with the perfumed elements 26.

Periodically, an operator may open the housing 12 and take out the perfume charger 24 to shake it, for example once a day, in order to mix the perfumed elements 26 and obtain optimum impregnation of the test body 16 by the perfume.

Alternatively, the operator may shake the housing 12 directly.

After a certain period of time, for example a week, the operator may replace the perfume charger 24 with an identical perfume charger or with a perfume charger containing perfumed elements of a different fragrance.

When the system 10 does not comprise a perfume charger 24, it is of course possible to change directly the perfumed elements 26 contained in the housing 12.

The test body 16 may also be replaced by an identical test body.

FIG. 3 illustrates the system 10 for testing a perfume according to a second embodiment of the invention.

This second embodiment differs from the first embodiment of FIGS. 1 and 2 by the perfume-dispensing device 118.

The perfume-dispensing device 118 comprises a perfume charger 124 and a perfume-impregnating body 126 mounted to rotate freely on the perfume charger 124.

The perfume charger 124 is designed to contain perfume in liquid form, for example in the form of oil or alcoholic solution.

The perfume charger 124 has a brick shape, for example. Alternatively, the perfume charger 124 may have any suitable shape, for example a cube, cylinder, etc.

The perfume charger 124 is fixed by its upper face 132 to the inner surface of the upper face 22 of the housing 12.

The lower face 134 of the perfume charger 124 is provided with a hole 136 sealed by the perfume-impregnating body 126.

In the example, the hole 136 is circular and the perfume-impregnating body 126 is formed by a ball.

The system 10 operates as follows.

Initially, the test body 16 is inserted into the housing 12 through the opening 14 and left in contact with the bait 126.

When the user wants to smell the perfume, he or she extracts the test body 16 from the housing 12, which rolls the ball 126 in place. The ball 126 is then loaded with perfume, for example on its surface, and thus deposits the perfume on the test body 16.

The user then smells the perfume impregnating the test body 16 and when finished, the user places the test body 16 back in the housing 12 in contact with the ball 126.

When the perfume charger 124 is empty, the operator may open the housing 12 and replace the perfume-dispensing device 118 with an identical perfume-dispensing device or with a perfume-dispensing device in which the perfume charger contains a different perfume.

One advantage provided by this second embodiment is that it allows the user to smell the base notes, heart notes, and head notes of the perfume. The base notes and heart notes are obtained by the preceding insertions/extractions of the test body, while the head notes are obtained by the last extraction of the test body.

FIG. 4 illustrates the system 10 for testing a perfume according to a third embodiment of the invention.

This third embodiment differs from the second embodiment of FIG. 3 by the perfume-dispensing device 218.

The perfume-dispensing device 218 comprises a perfume charger 224 and a perfume-impregnating body 226.

The perfume charger 224 is designed to contain perfume in liquid form, for example in the form of oil or alcoholic solution.

The perfume charger 224 is placed at the bottom of the housing 12 and has a cylindrical shape for example. Alternatively, the perfume charger 224 may have any suitable shape, for example the shape of a cube, a brick, etc.

The perfume-impregnating body 226 is fixedly mounted on the perfume charger 224 and is designed to be impregnated with the perfume contained in the perfume charger 224.

To do so, the perfume-impregnating body 226 may be made for example from foam, Porex®, cellulose, ceramic, etc., and more generally from any material permeable to liquid odor molecules.

Advantageously, a wick 238 may be provided between the perfume charger 224 and the perfume-impregnating body 226 in order to absorb perfume contained in the perfume charger 224 and to impregnate the perfume-impregnating body 226 with perfume.

The system 10 operates as follows.

Initially, the test body 16 is inserted into the housing 12 through the opening 14 and left in contact with the perfume-impregnating body 226, which impregnates the test body 16 with perfume.

When the user wishes to smell the perfume, he or she extracts the test body 16 from the housing 12, which freshly impregnates the test body 16 with perfume.

Then the user smells the perfume absorbed by the test body 16 and then places the test body 16 back in the housing 12 in contact with the perfume-impregnating body 226.

When the perfume charger 224 is empty, the operator may open the housing 12 and replace the perfume-dispensing device 218 by an identical perfume-dispensing device or by a perfume-dispensing device where the perfume charger contains a different perfume.

This third embodiment also allows the user to obtain the base notes, heart notes, and head notes of the perfume.

A first variant of this third embodiment is illustrated in FIGS. 5A to 5C.

This first variant differs from the third embodiment of FIG. 4 by the test body 316, which comprises a gripping portion 340 extending along the longitudinal axis X and an end portion 342 arranged in the axial extension of the gripping portion 340 and projecting radially from the gripping portion 340.

The system 10 operates as follows.

Initially, the test body 316 is inserted into the housing 12 through the opening 14 and is left in a position such that the gripping portion 340 is located next to the perfume-impregnating body 226 but not in contact with the perfume-impregnating body 226 which is loaded with perfume (FIG. 5A).

When the user wishes to smell the perfume, he or she extracts the test body 316 from the housing 12 (FIG. 5B).

During this extraction, the end portion 342 comes into contact with the perfume-impregnating body 226 and is thus impregnated with perfume (FIG. 5C).

Then the user smells the perfume impregnating the end portion 342 and then places the test body 316 back in the housing 12, the gripping portion 340 again next to but not in contact with the perfume-impregnating body 226.

After one week, for example, the test body 316 may be replaced with an identical test body or by the test body 16 of FIGS. 1 to 4.

This embodiment also allows the user to obtain the base notes, heart notes, and head notes of the perfume.

Another advantage provided by this embodiment lies in the fact that when the system is not in use, the test body is not impregnated with perfume unnecessarily and the perfume charger is also not emptied of perfume unnecessarily. The system thus has a longer service life.

In a second variant of this third embodiment, which also allows the user to obtain the base notes, heart notes, and head notes of the perfume as well as also extending the service life of the system, the test body 316 may be replaced by the test body 416 of FIG. 6.

Test body 416 comprises a gripping portion 440 extending along the longitudinal axis X and an end portion 442 arranged in the axial extension of the gripping portion 440.

The end portion 442 is made from a material designed to absorb perfume, in a manner identical to the other embodiments, but the gripping portion 440 is made from a material impermeable to the perfume, in particular a non-porous material.

The system 10 operates as follows.

Initially, the test body 416 is inserted into the housing 12 through the opening 14 and left in a position such that the gripping portion 440 is located next to the perfume-impregnating body 226 and in contact with the perfume-impregnating body 226 which is loaded with perfume.

As the gripping portion 440 is impermeable to perfume, it is not impregnated with perfume.

When the user wishes to smell the perfume, he or she extracts the test body 416 from the housing 12.

During this extraction, the end portion 442 comes into contact with the perfume-impregnating body 226 and is thus impregnated with perfume.

Then the user smells the perfume impregnating the end portion 442 and then places the test body 416 back in the housing 12, the gripping portion 440 again next to and in contact with the perfume-impregnating body 226.

After one week, for example, the test body 416 may be replaced with an identical test body or with the test bodies 16, 316 of FIGS. 1 to 5.

FIG. 7 illustrates the system 10 for testing a perfume according to a fourth embodiment of the invention.

This fourth embodiment differs from the third embodiment of FIG. 4 by the perfume-dispensing device 518.

The perfume-dispensing device 518 comprises a perfume charger 524 and two perfume-impregnating bodies 526.

The perfume charger 524 is designed to contain liquid perfume, for example in the form of oil or alcoholic solution.

The perfume charger 524 is arranged at the bottom of the housing 12 and has a cylindrical shape for example. Alternatively, the perfume charger 524 may have any suitable shape, such as a cube, brick, etc.

The perfume-impregnating bodies 526 are mounted to rotate freely on the perfume charger 524 and are designed to be impregnated with the perfume contained in the perfume charger 524.

To do so, the perfume-impregnating bodies 226 may, for example, be made from foam, Porex®, cellulose, ceramic, etc., and more generally from any material permeable to liquid odor molecules.

Advantageously, a wick 538 may be provided between the perfume charger 524 and the perfume-impregnating body 526 in order to facilitate impregnation of the perfume-impregnating body 526 with perfume.

The system 10 operates as follows.

Initially, the test body 16 is inserted into the housing 12 through the opening 14 and remains in contact with and between the perfume-impregnating bodies 526 loaded with perfume which thus impregnate the test body 16 with the perfume.

When the user wishes to smell the perfume, he or she extracts the test body 16 from the housing 12, thereby rotating the perfume-impregnating bodies 526 on themselves in opposite directions of rotation and once again impregnating the test body 16 with the perfume.

Then the user smells the perfume impregnating the test body 16 and then places the test body 16 back in the housing 12 in contact with the perfume-impregnating bodies 226.

When the perfume charger 524 is empty, the operator may open the housing 12 and replace the perfume-dispensing device 518 by an identical perfume-dispensing device or by a perfume-dispensing device where the perfume charger contains a different perfume.

This fourth embodiment also allows the user to obtain the base notes, heart notes, and head notes of the perfume.

The invention thus provides a system for testing a perfume that is simple and inexpensive to manufacture and is simple and fun to use.

In addition, as the distribution of perfume on the test body is achieved by contact with the perfume-impregnating body and not by spraying, the system according to the invention prevents perfume droplets from being sprayed elsewhere besides on the test body, thus reducing the waste of perfume and the fouling on the housing.

Furthermore, the existence of a perfume charger facilitates replacement of the perfume-dispensing device when there is no more perfume or when the operator wishes to change the perfume to be tested.

The system according to the invention also allows leaving the test body inside the housing for a prolonged period, for example overnight, allowing the user to access the base notes and heart notes of the perfume in addition to the head notes which are usually the only ones obtained with conventional testers.

The system according to the invention may also be aesthetical, comprising a transparent or translucent housing, for example. 

1. The system for testing a perfume, comprising: a housing comprising an opening; a test body designed to be at least partially inserted into the housing through the opening, the test body being made at least partially from a material that can be impregnated with perfume; and a perfume-dispensing device arranged inside the housing and designed to dispense the perfume onto the test body when the test body is inserted into the housing, wherein the perfume-dispensing device comprises at least one perfume-impregnating body with which the test body is designed to come into contact when the test body is inserted into the housing, the perfume-impregnating body being designed to be loaded with perfume and to impregnate the test body with the perfume when it comes into contact with the test body.
 2. The system according to claim 1, wherein said material that can be impregnated with perfume is a porous material selected from among a ceramic, Porex®, a cellulose, and a plaster.
 3. The system according to claim 1, wherein the test body comprises a gripping portion extending along a longitudinal axis, and an end portion arranged in the axial extension of the gripping portion and projecting radially from the gripping portion.
 4. The system according to claim 1, wherein the test body comprises a gripping portion extending along a longitudinal axis, and an end portion arranged in the axial extension of the gripping portion, the end portion being made of said material that can be impregnated with perfume and the gripping portion being made of a material impermeable to perfume.
 5. The system according to claim 1, wherein the perfume-dispensing device comprises a plurality of perfume-impregnating bodies in the form of solid perfumed elements.
 6. The system according to claim 5, wherein the perfumed elements are in the form of granules, chips, beads, or capsules.
 7. The system according to claim 5, wherein the perfumed elements are made from plastic, mineral salts, wax, soap, or gel.
 8. The system according to claim 5, wherein the perfume-dispensing device comprises a perfume charger containing the perfumed elements.
 9. The system according to claim 1, wherein the perfume-dispensing device comprises a perfume charger designed to contain perfume in liquid form and provided with a hole sealed by the perfume-impregnating body, the perfume-impregnating body being mounted to rotate freely on the perfume charger.
 10. The system according to claim 1, wherein the perfume-dispensing device comprises a perfume charger designed to contain perfume in liquid form, the perfume-impregnating body being fixedly mounted on the perfume charger and designed to be impregnated with perfume.
 11. The system according to claim 1, wherein the perfume-dispensing device comprises a perfume charger designed to contain perfume in liquid form, and two perfume-impregnating bodies mounted to rotate freely on the perfume charger and designed to be impregnated with perfume.
 12. The system according to claim 10, wherein the perfume-impregnating bodies are made from foam, Porex®, cellulose, or ceramic.
 13. The system according to claim 10, further comprising a wick arranged between the perfume charger and the perfume-impregnating bodies, the wick being designed to soak up the perfume and to impregnate the perfume-impregnating bodies with perfume.
 14. The system according to claim 1, wherein the test body is connected to the housing by a tether. 